EYWandBTV

We're about to leave for the UK and I just checked the weather forecast for all the places we're going to visit, London-Keswick-Haltwhistle-Bamburgh-Traquair-Glencoe-Glasgow...nonstop rain. Does anyone have the email of someone we could contact to request sun? Cool weather we can handle, but nonstop rain? ....umph.

MmePerdu

My only trip to the Lake District was in a steady downpour for the first few days. The forecast was more of the same so I cut my losses and headed south. You might consider leaving yourself open to the possibility of doing something similar. A little added expense and a Plan B can salvage a trip.

Lois2

when one travels to UK one has to expect rain...if you get something else great.

EYWandBTV

MmePerdu: how far south? The Amalfi Coast is calling....

MmePerdu

The West Midlands was were I went, south & west of Birmingham. Amalfi Coast would do it, too.

PatrickLondon

To be fair, the forecasts I've seen talk mostly about showers and scattered showers, which does suggest let-ups, though it does look as though you won't see much if any sunshine.

EYWandBTV

We'll take the let-ups!!!

annhig

EYWandBTV

I just checked the BBC forecast for our part of Cornwall for the next 10 days and while it's not stellar, it's certainly not continuous rain.

But the great thing about the Lake district is that when it rains, the waterfalls are superb.

And there's always the pub.

BigRuss

Complaining that the UK is rainy is like complaining that you're surrounded by foreigners when you arrive someplace outside your home country or whinging that it's too cold in Moscow in January or too hot in Phoenix in summer.

Dukey1

Stay home in Key West or wherever you live if that makes you happier. Be glad you can afford to even GO.

colduphere

Dukey has a real nice place. You could visit him.

EYWandBTV

Calm down folks, just asking for 3 hours of sun in a 14 day period, OK?

mdinbc

I live in one of the rainiest cities in Canada on the north coast of BC, and even when our weather forecast shows rain for days on end, it doesn't tell the whole truth.

Yes, it may rain every day, but it may be a drizzle, or it may be on and off rain, or heavy rain for two hours, then ok for the rest of the day. Don't be too disheartened.
Pack a good rain jacket with a hood (no one here uses umbrellas!) and long enough to cover your upper legs. Try to find one that is not plastic or vinyl-coated. Have a look at Helly Hansen - Belfast or Kirkwall are nice options. A baseball cap under the hood shields your face from the rain.
An extra pair of shoes, or waterproof shoes will keep your tootsies dry and happy for hours of walking.

If you use a day-pack, you can get water-resistant ones, especially for your camera and electronics.

And also, photos taken on cloudy days can be lovely with softer lighting and dramatic skies.

willit

You'll probably get it, but in 10 minute periods between showers.

That's why Britain had an empire - people desperate for sun invaded the world.

EYWandBTV

@mdinbc: great info! Yes, we're all stocked up with stuff and we anticipate some strong winds coming from the west especially when we're visiting Hadrian's wall in the Haltwhistle/Hexham area. Plus, as annhig so wisely put it, there's the pub, and I think we have an assortment of pints and pies in our future.

BritishCaicos

We very rarely have rain for more than two days in a row.

The forecast for next week is settled but patchy rain.

If you are bothered about sunny weather don't visit the UK.

sparkchaser

The forecast for today was to be dry but it drizzled all day. Take that for what it is worth.

I think we had summer earlier this week.

EYWandBTV

We visited in November a couple of years ago and had every category of weather except sleet, which was fun...just wait two hours for a change. It was the long row of rainy clouds in the accuweather extended forecast that made me wonder...

Sassafrass

With limited time and money, there is nothing wrong with wanting the most comfortable or enjoyable weather on vacation. I have delayed travel a couple of days and swapped out plan A for plan B a number of times, when faced with torrential rain, an ice storm, etc., things that would keep me from enjoying the activities I had planned. Making the best of a situation is fine, but no point being miserable if you have a choice. EYWandBTV, hope you have many spots of sun shine.

jamikins

It was forecast to rain in London for the last 7 days. I have eaten outside in the sun every day this week. It has rained for maybe an hour each day and then been lovely sunny tshirt weather. Take the weather reports with a grain of salt.